Last Updated on June 6, 2025 by adrian
Betfair is run by PBB Games with its only direct sister site being Paddy Power. Their head office address is Level 2, Spinola Park, Mikiel Ang. Borg Street, St. Julians, SPK1000 in the heart of Malta.
Our Top Rated UK Casino and Betting Site
Betfair and Paddy Power are also part of the larger Flutter Group which has other sites included, but in terms of UK sites these are the ones that matter, although you could perhaps include Sky Betting and Gaming though they aren’t registered as being run by PBB Games. We’ll take a look at them all anyway.
BetFair: The Exchange Pioneer
Started back in 2000, BetFair shook things up proper with their betting exchange concept. Changed the whole game, that did. Instead of betting against a bookmaker, punters could lay bets against each other. Pure genius, really. The platform’s grown into this massive beast, but it’s still got that original exchange at its heart.
What makes Betfair properly special is their exchange platform – it’s like a stock market for sports betting. You can back or lay (bet against) outcomes at odds that you choose. I remember when I first cottoned on to the power of this – was laying some overpriced favorites in the Championship, making a steady profit while everyone else was throwing money at them. The liquidity on major markets is mental – millions quid matched on big Premier League games.
Their in-play betting interface is another game-changer. You’ve got these graphs showing price movements, market depth indicators, and matched betting volumes that make you feel like some proper trading genius. They’ve even got this cash out feature that’s saved my bacon more times than I care to admit. And their API? Proper bit of kit for those who know their way around a bit of code – allows you to build your own trading bots and everything.
Course, it’s not all roses. The commission structure can be a right headache when you’re starting out – takes a while to build up enough volume to get decent rates. And the learning curve? Steeper than the north face of the Eiger. Took me months to really get my head around all the features, but once you do, it’s like having the keys to the kingdom.
Sky Betting & Gaming: From TV to Total Domination
Sky Bet kicked off as this tiny part of BSkyB back in 2001, but they’ve played it smart. They’ve leveraged that Sky Sports connection like nobody’s business, and now they’re absolutely massive. Each of their brands (Sky Bet, Sky Vegas, Sky Bingo) does its own thing, but they all work together like a well-oiled machine.
Their integration with Sky Sports is bloody brilliant – watching Match of the Day and fancy a flutter? Bang, open the app, place your bet, back to the action. They’ve got this RequestABet feature that’s proper addictive – build your own bet from multiple markets, share it on social media, get better odds than you’d find anywhere else. The trading team’s pretty sharp too – they’re usually first out with prices on transfer speculation and manager markets.
Paddy Power: The Irish Upstart
These mad lads started in Dublin, 1988. Famous for their cheeky marketing stunts that would make your gran blush. Merged with Betfair in 2016 to create this absolute unit of a gambling company, but they’ve kept that irreverent Irish spirit alive.
Paddy’s social media game is untouchable – they’re like that mate who’s always taking the piss, but in a good way. Remember when they paid out early on Hillary Clinton winning the US election? Costly mistake that, but it’s exactly the kind of ballsy move that’s made them famous. Their trading floor’s a proper operation now – state-of-the-art risk management systems, but they still aren’t afraid to take a position on big events.
Platform Comparison
| Sports Betting Platform Features | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Sports Markets | Betting Features | Live Streaming | Mobile Experience |
| Betfair | 45+ sports including niche markets, Full exchange betting, Deep liquidity pools, Asian handicaps, Special bets, Greyhound racing | Back/Lay betting, Price graphs, Trading tools, API access, Cash out, Bet builder, Each way edge, Market depth indicators | HD streaming on all major sports, Multi-view option, Picture-in-picture, Live stats integration, Expert commentary | 4.6/5, Separate Exchange/Sportsbook apps, Quick bet slip, Touch ID login, Custom alerts, Price alerts |
| Sky Bet | 38+ sports, Extensive football markets, Horse racing specials, Politics/TV specials, Enhanced accumulators, Virtual sports | RequestABet, Build-A-Bet, Price boosts, Partial cash out, Beat the Drop, Soccer Saturday Super 6, Pitch index | Sky Sports integration, Racing UK, Multiple camera angles, Expert commentary, Live scores, Match statistics | 4.8/5, Fast markets, Quick deposit, Fingerprint login, Customizable homepage, Match alerts |
| Paddy Power | 40+ sports, Novelty bets, Politics markets, Virtual sports, Extensive horse racing, eSports coverage | Same Game Multi, Power Prices, Early payouts, Acca insurance, #WhatOddsPaddy custom bets, Beat the Drop | Racing coverage, Sports streaming, In-play visualizations, Match stats, Commentary, Virtual sports streaming | 4.5/5, Quick bet feature, Push notifications, Face ID support, Trending bets feed, Social sharing |
| Casino Platform Features | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Game Selection | Live Casino Features | Security & Support | Banking Options |
| Sky Vegas | 1000+ slots from Playtech, NetEnt, Blueprint, Red Tiger, Pragmatic Play, 25+ exclusive titles, Progressive jackpots, Megaways games, Daily drops, Instant win games | Evolution Gaming tables, Private Sky tables, Game shows, Exclusive blackjack, Dedicated hosts, Multi-camera angles, Tournament tables | SSL encryption, 2FA, ID verification, Reality checks, Deposit limits, Time-outs, 24/7 live chat, Phone support, Email priority line | Debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Bank transfer, Trustly, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafecard, Fast withdrawals, Instant deposits |
| Paddy Power | 800+ slots from Playtech, IGT, Red Tiger, BTG, Pragmatic, 15+ exclusive games, Daily jackpots, Must-drop prizes, Slingo games, Scratch cards | Playtech live suite, Branded tables, Game shows, Sports-themed blackjack, Native dealers, Multi-table play, Live slots | SSL security, 2FA login, Source of funds checks, Loss limits, Self-exclusion tools, 24/7 support, Social media help, VIP managers | Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Google Pay, Bank transfers, Skrill, PaySafeCard, Fast Bank, Same-day processing, Mobile payments |
| Betfair Casino | 900+ slots from Playtech, NetEnt, Red Tiger, Blueprint, BTG, 20+ exclusives, Exchange games, Double ball roulette, Virtual sports, Arcade games | Dual Play tables, Quantum Roulette, Live slots, Exclusive blackjack, Sportsbook integration, Dedicated VIP area, Live game shows | SSL protocols, Strong authentication, KYC checks, Deposit controls, Session limits, VIP support, Email priority, Personal account manager | All major cards, PayPal, Apple/Google Pay, Open Banking, Bank transfers, E-wallets, Instant deposits, Cryptocurrency |
Mobile Experience
Been testing these apps for years now, and they’ve come a long way. Sky Bet’s app is probably the slickest of the lot – dead simple to use and quick as you like. Betfair’s got separate apps for their sportsbook and exchange, which is a bit of a faff but makes sense when you’re deep into both. Paddy Power’s app feels like it’s trying to do too much sometimes, but it’s solid enough.
Security and Fair Play
They’re all licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, which means they’ve got to follow some proper strict rules. Every site’s got SSL encryption (the fancy padlock in your browser), and they all do ID checks that’ll make you feel like you’re applying for a mortgage. Sky Vegas and Paddy Power have gone extra heavy on the responsible gambling tools – deposit limits, time-outs, that sort of thing.
Live Dealer Sections
If you’re after the live casino experience, Betfair’s probably your best bet. They’ve got this massive selection of Evolution Gaming tables – proper professional dealers, multiple camera angles, the works. Paddy Power’s not far behind, while Sky Vegas is still playing catch-up in this department.
Choosing Your Site?
Each platform’s got its sweet spot. If you’re serious about sports betting, you can’t beat Betfair’s exchange or Sky Bet’s in-play stuff. Casino games? Sky Vegas has got some proper exclusive slots you won’t find anywhere else. Bingo? Sky Bingo’s community feels more genuine than most. And Paddy Power? Well, they’re just good all-round entertainment, aren’t they?
